Acoustics of the saxophone

Bb soprano saxophone

C5

Music Acoustics UNSW

Impedance

Fingering
a key depressed
a key not depressed
a hole covered
a hole uncovered
a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched
Details in fingering legend.

Acoustic schematic
a closed tone hole
an open tone hole

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to saxophone acoustics

Notes are the written pitch.
Frequencies are the sounding frequency, for Bb saxophone.
Unless otherwise stated, the impedance spectrum is for a Bb saxophone.


Impedance spectrum of a Bb soprano saxophone measured using fingering for C5.

At frequencies below about 1 kHz, this curve looks rather like that for B4, but raised in frequency. At higher frequencies, however, the situation is complicated by the cut-off frequency. Here we have only two peaks that fall in the harmonic series: this fingering will bugle an octave, but no other note in the series. Above this frequency, the spacing of peaks in the upper part of the curve roughly equals that in the curve for the lowest note, A#3. This is because, at high frequency, the wave propagates past the open tone holes, reflecting only at the bell.

For general comments about the first register, see A#3. Compare with the impedance spectrum for a tenor sax on written C5: same fingering but sounding one octave lower.

Sound


Sound spectrum of a Bb soprano saxophone played using fingering for C5.
For more explanation, see Introduction to saxophone acoustics test

Sound Clip

You can hear C5 played.

Alternative Fingering

Bb soprano saxophone

Impedance

Fingering
a key depressed
a key not depressed
a hole covered
a hole uncovered
a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched
Details in fingering legend.

Acoustic schematic
a closed tone hole
an open tone hole

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to saxophone acoustics

Notes are the written pitch.
Frequencies are the sounding frequency, for Bb saxophone.
Unless otherwise stated, the impedance spectrum is for a Bb saxophone.


Impedance spectrum of a Bb soprano saxophone measured using alternative fingering for C5.Note that the impedance curves are very similar for the two fingerings, at least at low frequencies. At high frequencies, for which the first fingering can be considered to be a cross fingering, there are differences.

Sound


Sound spectrum of a Bb soprano saxophone played using alternative fingering for C5.
For more explanation, see Introduction to saxophone acoustics

Sound Clip

You can hear C5 played with alternative fingering.
Fingering legend
How were these results obtained?

Contact: Joe Wolfe / J.Wolfe@unsw.edu.au
phone 61-2-9385-4954 (UT +10, +11 Oct-Mar)
© 1997-2009 Music Acoustics UNSW